STEAM GENERATOR FLOW BY-PASS SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A power module assembly comprising:
- a reactor housing;
a reactor core located in a lower portion of the reactor housing;
a heat exchanger proximately located about an upper portion of the reactor housing, wherein primary coolant flows out of the reactor housing via the upper portion, and wherein the primary coolant flows into the reactor housing via the lower portion; and
a passageway provided in the reactor housing intermediate the lower portion and the upper portion, wherein the passageway is configured to provide an auxiliary flow of primary coolant to the reactor core to augment the flow of the primary coolant out of the upper portion of the reactor housing and into the lower portion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A nuclear reactor module includes a reactor vessel and a reactor housing mounted inside the reactor vessel, wherein the reactor housing comprises a shroud and a riser located above the shroud. The nuclear reactor module further includes a heat exchanger proximately located about the riser, and a reactor core located in the shroud. A steam generator by-pass system is configured to provide an auxiliary flow path of primary coolant to the reactor core to augment a primary flow path of the primary coolant out of the riser and into the shroud, wherein the auxiliary flow path of primary coolant exits the reactor housing without passing by the heat exchanger.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A power module assembly comprising:
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a reactor housing; a reactor core located in a lower portion of the reactor housing; a heat exchanger proximately located about an upper portion of the reactor housing, wherein primary coolant flows out of the reactor housing via the upper portion, and wherein the primary coolant flows into the reactor housing via the lower portion; and a passageway provided in the reactor housing intermediate the lower portion and the upper portion, wherein the passageway is configured to provide an auxiliary flow of primary coolant to the reactor core to augment the flow of the primary coolant out of the upper portion of the reactor housing and into the lower portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 18, 19)
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9. A nuclear reactor module comprising:
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a reactor vessel; a reactor housing mounted inside the reactor vessel, wherein the reactor housing comprises a shroud and a riser located above the shroud; a heat exchanger proximately located about the riser; a reactor core located in the shroud; and a steam generator flow by-pass system configured to provide an auxiliary flow path of primary coolant to the reactor core to augment a primary flow path of the primary coolant out of the riser and into the shroud, wherein the auxiliary flow path of primary coolant exits the reactor housing without passing by the heat exchanger. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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20. A method of cooling a nuclear reactor comprising:
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circulating a primary coolant through a reactor housing comprising an upper riser and a lower shroud, wherein a primary flow path of the primary coolant passes by a heat exchanger proximately located about the riser, and wherein the primary coolant enters the lower shroud; detecting a loss of coolant accident or a depressurization event; decreasing a fluid level of the primary coolant below the top of the riser, wherein the primary coolant exits the riser as steam; circulating an auxiliary flow path of the primary coolant through an auxiliary passageway provided in the reactor housing, wherein the auxiliary flow path of the primary coolant exits the reactor housing without passing by the heat exchanger; and combining the primary coolant from the auxiliary flow path with the primary coolant from the primary flow path that enters the lower shroud. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification